Wind Surges 17% at Peak Hours, Supports Grid Stability: Vestas

Wind energy generation in Mexico increases by over 17% between 15:00 and 19:00 hours, offering critical peak-hour supply that aligns directly with daily national consumption surges. This operational profile mitigates thermal generation reliance and stabilizes grid operations amid expanding industrial demand and 55% structural dependence on imported natural gas. The findings provide key strategic criteria for grid operators, private developers, and energy regulators evaluating Mexico’s US$4.75 billion renewable expansion pipeline and 2030 clean energy targets.
 

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Wind energy generation in Mexico increases by over 17% during the transition toward peak energy demand, making this kind of generation a potential stabilizer for the country’s energy needs, says Denmark-based wind turbine manufacturer Vestas. The company advocates against measuring diverse renewable energy generation methods under a single definition of intermittency.

A recent Vestas study emphasizes that generation profiles will be a decisive factor for the energy security, system costs, and grid resilience of the Mexican power sector. The company argues that renewable energy technologies should not be evaluated solely by their aggregate power output, but rather by the specific hours during which they generate electricity.

According to the study, wind generation in Mexico increases by approximately 17% between 15:00 and 19:00, coinciding with the daily transition toward peak electricity demand. This operational profile allows wind power to supply electricity during critical consumption hours, reducing operational pressure on conventional thermal generation and stabilizing system operations. The findings gain relevance as national power demand expands due to nearshoring manufacturing growth, industrial electrification, and the expansion of data centers, while 55% of Mexico’s electricity generation remains dependent on imported natural gas. 

"The energy debate has evolved. The question is no longer solely how much energy a technology can generate, but how aligned it is with the real needs of the electrical system. Our analysis demonstrates that renewable sources contribute in different ways to the system and that wind energy brings strategic value by generating precisely during critical consumption hours," stated Mehdi Hadbi, Country Manager of Vestas Mexico. 

The report cautions against treating all renewable sources under a uniform definition of intermittency, noting that individual technologies exhibit distinct operational behaviors. Solar energy production concentrates during midday hours, whereas wind power output scales up in the late afternoon and evening when overall grid demand reaches its highest points. The study highlights that managing variable renewable energy relies on combining complementary generation profiles to construct grid resilience and lower total system costs, rather than attempting to eliminate operational variability.

Drawing from international market dynamics, the study references high solar penetration in regions like California and Brazil, where concentrated solar output creates a steep afternoon generation drop known as the "duck curve," requiring rapid ramp-up capabilities from secondary power sources. To prevent similar operational bottlenecks, the analysis stresses that Mexico’s grid expansion must prioritize a diversified generation mix capable of aligning output with real-time demand patterns, integrating complementary technologies such as hydroelectric power and energy storage to lower overall system variability.

What is the State of Wind Generation in Mexico? 

According to the Mexican Association of Wind Energy (AMDEE), by the end of 2024, Mexico operated 74 wind farms distributed across 15 states, representing a combined installed capacity of 7,782MW and over 3,342 active wind turbines. AMDEE estimated that national wind production generated over 19TWh during 2024, accounting for approximately 5.68% of the country's total electricity generation. 

Geographically, capacity remains concentrated in high-resource regions such as the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Oaxaca, alongside northern clusters in Tamaulipas, Coahuila, and Nuevo Leon. Despite these assets, the sector faced an operational bottleneck in recent years, leaving an estimated 414MW across 3 completed wind farms idle due to delayed generation permits, along with another 175MW in shovel-ready projects awaiting regulatory execution. 

The regulatory environment shifted after SENER approved 20 new power generation permits for domestic and international firms, signaling renewed private-sector participation under the federal Energy Sector Program 2025–2030. Approved wind developments, including projects by Eólica Dzilam, EPM Eólica 24, Vientos de Panabá, and Eólica del Rocío, form part of a 3,320MW expansion pipeline backed by US$4.75 billion in private investment, as reported by MBN. Following the submission of signed interconnection agreements and letters of credit to CENACE earlier this year, these project approvals support federal planning objectives aimed at expanding national clean generation toward a 38% share by 2030.